Use best practices when choosing your contractor

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is issuing a press release today regarding best practices when choosing companies to perform storm repair work in the wake of Monday morning’s tornado in the Seneca area.

“Recovery and restoration work continues as crews are working to clean-up areas and restore power. Home and property owners are preparing to meet with insurance adjusters and begin the process of hiring debris removal services, remodelers and roofing companies.” says Oconee County Mike Crenshaw. “Many legitimate companies and businesses have been in the affected area already to provide home and business owners with information about the services they provide. However, the potential exist for our citizens to be defrauded and scammed by individuals and fake businesses looking to take advantage of the natural disaster. We wanted to offer our citizens some tips and best practices to prevent them from becoming a victim of a scam or some non-trustworthy contractor.”

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is offering these tips and best practices today:

• One of the best places to begin obtaining information about legitimate businesses who are offering disaster relief services is through word of mouth. Contact family and friends to receive recommendations about businesses who have done work for them in the past. Of course, a positive experience you have had with a business goes a long way in making your choice as well.
• If safe to do so, you may want to wait until you speak with an insurance adjuster before agreeing to a contract with a business. Also if safe to do so, you may want to leave your property in the condition it was found in after the storm hit so the adjuster can see the aftermath first hand. This may not be a possibility for those homes, structures and property that have suffered significant damage. Make sure to take plenty of pictures of the damage around your home or property, especially if you decided to go ahead and clean-up. This is a good rule of thumb even if you think your homeowner’s policy may not cover certain items related to your recovery efforts.
• You may want to obtain several different quotes from debris removal services, roofing companies or remodelers, if it feasible to do so. Be aware of high pressure tactics and never sign a contract or allow anyone to do anything on your property until you are ready. It is your home and property and you have a right to decide who you want to do work for you.
• The Sheriff’s Office recommends not paying any money up front until the work is done and is completed to your specifications and liking.
• It is recommended that companies that you deal with be licensed and bonded to protect yourself in case workers on your property are injured.
• Do your own homework as well. If you receive a card from a business or one stops by to visit and provides information, check the internet for information on that company, such as through the Better Business Bureau. Also, internet reviews, such as Google Reviews, may be a good way to check on the reliability and quality of work that a business provides.
• Keep copies of any pictures of damage and any invoices or quotes you acquire for recovery purposes for your records in case additional funding sources become available for reimbursement purposes.